I'm Having An Affair

I'm cheating on my dry cleaner! Gotcha! Well, that's what it feels like. I like to frequent local businesses, and there are two on my way home.

The best tailor/dry cleaner in North Cambridge is the one and only Jack's Tailoring and Dry Cleaning, 1937 Mass Ave, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA 02140, (617) 868-8339. Jack Papazian is not only courteous, but is a miracle worker when it comes to rehabilitating outfits that seem beyond repair.

I discovered Jack's when I stopped thinking in bulk. I used to go to a Harvard Square dry cleaner, which shall remain nameless, because that business would dry clean clothes, but only charge by the pound. An excellent choice for the impoverished yet fashionable student, but not so great when a certain special dress gets ripped, and it remains in the seamstress' dusty pile of clothes for over a month.

I decided to spend a little more, but it was worth it. All dry cleaning will cost you a lot unless you use Dryel so if you have to go somewhere, go to someone who possibly cares more about your clothes than you do. Seriously, Jack usually does not even need the receipt. As soon as he sees me coming through the door, he has gathered all my clothes and started chatting about how the local businesses are doing.

Still, I am always tempted to stray. When I moved to my condo, there was one closer to my home with nice people who open early every morning and wave hello. Unfortunately, they also found it extremely taxing to sow a button on the opposite side of the button hole on my pants suit and decided to use it as an example for one of their assistants as what not to do. They asked me to return three more times in the span of two and a half weeks because they "forgot" to show the mistake to her, and they thought she would not believe them if they did not do so. The last time, I was rather insistent when I politely explained that I would take my suit back now regardless of whether or not the button was attached. In a matter of seconds, the button was on, and my suit was ready.

Such encounters do not stop me from straying unfortunately. When I just want to dry clean a lot of clothes and there is a special promotional deal, I go to Zoots. I usually get a coupon book, which reduces costs significantly. In addition, it is apparently environmentally friendly. So at least when I have to cheat on Jack's, I can console myself that it is for mankind.